Ammunition magazine

ABSTRACT

The present invention is an ammunition magazine, preferably made of a reinforced polymer, utilizing a structurally enhancing ridge, angular guide rails and a follower made to interface with said guide rails to reduce wobble. The preferred embodiment also features a protective cover that distributes forces from the spring to more structurally sound areas of the magazine, thus reducing feed end splay, and an ammunition indication system comprised of at least one window and a noticeable marker on the follower spring. The follower and magazine casing are also designed to interface to prevent the follower from popping out of the feed end and the floor plate of the magazine utilizes a locking plate and sliding relationship between the floor plate, locking plate and magazine to secure the floor plate onto the magazine casing. The cover features built in tools for, among other things, unloading and disassembling the magazine.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. § 120

The present Application for Patent is a reissue of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/661,620 entitled “Ammunition Magazine” filedJul. 27, 2017 and issued on Sep. 11, 2018 as U.S. Pat. No. 10,072,903,which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/632,804entitled “Ammunition Magazine” filed Feb. 26, 2015 and issued on Aug.29, 2017 as U.S. Pat. No. 9,746,264, which is a Continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/461,229 entitled “Ammunition Magazine”filed Aug. 15, 2014 and issued on Mar. 31, 2015 as U.S. Pat. No.8,991,086, which is a Continuation-in-Part of patent application Ser.No. 14/098,467 entitled “Ammunition Magazine” filed Dec. 5, 2013 andissued on Sep. 23, 2014 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,839,543, which is aContinuation of patent application Ser. No. 13/307,431 entitled“Ammunition Magazine” filed Nov. 30, 2011 and issued on Jan. 28, 2014 asU.S. Pat. No. 8,635,796, which is a Continuation of prior filed U.S.application Ser. No. 12/354,766, filed Jan. 15, 2009 and issued on Dec.6, 2011 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,069,601 which, in turn, is aContinuation-in-Part of prior filed U.S. application Ser. No.11/958,274, filed on Dec. 17, 2007 issued on Mar. 22, 2011 as U.S. Pat.No. 7,908,780, which, in turn, claims priority to earlier filed U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/941,646, filed on Jun. 1, 2007. Each ofthese patents and applications are assigned to the assignee hereof andare hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates to the field of firearms and moreparticularly relates to an improved ammunition magazine.

BACKGROUND

Ammunition magazines are well known in the art of firearms. Their basicconstruction is a containment shell with two open ends. One end isdeemed the “floor” of the magazine and is covered by a plate while theopposite end is the “feed” end and interfaces with the weapon. Insidethe volume defined by the shell and plate is a spring and followerassembly. When ammunition is loaded into the magazine, the ammunitionpushes the follower down towards the floor and thereby compresses thespring. In use, when one cartridge of ammunition is expended, thecompressed spring releases and pushes the follower and associatedammunition upwards toward the feed end and the next round of ammunitionis thereby readied.

Prior magazines have been manufactured in many different configurationsand of different materials. Perhaps the best known in the U.S. are theAK-47 and the USGI AR15/M16 magazines. These magazines functionsimilarly, though they are made with slight variations to interface withtheir host system. Of notable difference is that the AK-47 magazine hasa relatively constant curvature while the AR15/M16 magazine has a lesscurved lower region that gradually resolves to a more linear functiontowards the feed end. Both use the same type of internal system. Ofparticular note with both, and all follower magazine systems, is thatthe system works well only as the follower smoothly and levelly travelsthe inside of the magazine. As the follower must move, there is room forthe follower in all the known prior art magazines to move axially, or“wobble” and possibly jam. This is notorious in the AR15/M16 magazinestyle as the geometry of the magazine is inherently not uniform.

The present invention is a polymer magazine with angularly shaped guiderails to interface with the internal follower, thereby restricting axialmotion of the follower. The magazine also features a load indicator anda two-piece floor plate locking system. The present invention representsa departure from the prior art in that the magazine of the presentinvention allows for more stable and level motion of the follower whilethe magazine is loaded or unloaded.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofammunition magazines, this invention provides an improved magazine. Assuch, the present invention's general purpose is to provide a new andimproved magazine that is backwards compatible with known weaponplatforms and presents a more stable follower and follower path.

To accomplish these objectives, the improved ammunition magazinecomprises a plurality of lateral angularly shaped guide rails within themagazine shell and a follower that is configured to abut them. Byinterfacing with more internal structure, all non-advantageous linearand axial motion is inhibited and the follower is then more stable inits progress. The magazine also features a polymer construction and anammunition load indicator system. The magazine also features a cover forstorage.

The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined inorder that the more detailed description that follows may be betterunderstood and in order that the present contribution to the art maybetter be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will bedescribed hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claimsthat follow.

Many objects of this invention will appear from the followingdescription and appended claims, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein likereference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applicationto the details of construction and the arrangements of the componentsset forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced andcarried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the magazine according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled magazine according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the magazine of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the magazine according to the presentinvention, without the impact cover.

FIG. 5 is a hind plan view of the magazine of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the magazine in FIG. 5, taken along line6-6.

FIG. 6a is a perspective view of the floor and lock plates according tothe present invention.

FIG. 6b is a side plan view of the floor and lock plates of FIG. 6a.

FIG. 6c is an alternative perspective view of the floor and lock platesof FIG. 6a.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the magazine body, according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-section of the magazine body of FIG. 7, taken alongline 8-8 and re-orientated with the bottom down.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the follower according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 9a is a side plan view of the follower of FIG. 9.

FIG. 9b is a front plan view of the follower of FIG. 9.

FIG. 9c is a rear plan view of the follower of FIG. 9.

FIG. 9d is a bottom plan view of the follower of FIG. 9.

FIG. 9e is a sectional view of the follower of FIG. 9d, taken along line9e-9e.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the impact cover according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 10a is a side plan view of the impact cover of FIG. 10.

FIG. 10b is a front plan view of the impact cover of FIG. 10.

FIG. 10c is a rear plan view of the impact cover of FIG. 10.

FIG. 10d is a bottom plan view of the impact cover of FIG. 10.

FIG. 10e is a sectional view of the impact cover of FIG. 10d, takenalong line 10e-10e.

FIGS. 11a-11c are successive plan views showing use of the impact coveras a magazine unloading tool.

FIGS. 12a-12c are successive plan views showing use of the impact coverto disassemble the magazine.

FIG. 13 is a side plan view of an alternate embodiment of the magazineaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view of the magazine of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a bottom plan view of the magazine of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a side plan view of the magazine of FIG. 13, with the impactcover in a stowed position on the magazine.

FIG. 17 is a rear perspective view of the magazine of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a bottom plan view of the magazine of FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view of the magazine of FIG. 16.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view of the magazine of FIG. 17.

FIG. 21 is a sectional view of the magazine's external components, alongthe same section line as FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 is a sectional view of the magazine's external components, alongthe same section line as FIG. 20.

FIG. 23 is a left, front, top perspective view of a follower for thealternative magazine embodiment depicted in FIG. 13.

FIG. 24 is a left, rear, top perspective view of the follower of FIG.23.

FIG. 25 is a top plan view of the follower of FIG. 23.

FIG. 26 a left plan view of the follower of FIG. 23.

FIG. 27 is a front plan view of the follower of FIG. 23.

FIG. 28 is a rear plan view of the follower of FIG. 23.

FIG. 29 is a bottom plan view of the follower of FIG. 23.

FIG. 30 is a left, front, bottom perspective view of the follower ofFIG. 23.

FIG. 31 is a left, rear, bottom perspective view of the follower of FIG.23.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of theammunition magazine is herein described. It should be noted that thearticles “a”, “an” and “the”, as used in this specification, includeplural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

With reference to FIG. 1, the magazine 1 generally comprises a body 10having a floor end 13 and a feed end 17. The magazine 1, can have foreand aft sides and two lateral sides longer than the fore and aft sides.Feed lips 21 are provided at the feed end 17 to interface with a weaponand to guide cartridges into the firing chamber of said weapon. Thefloor end is capped with a floor plate 20 which is secured by a lockplate 25. A spring 35 rests against the lock plate 25, centered by walls24 (see FIG. 6a), and floor plate 20 combination and provides tension tobias the follower 30 and the floor plate 20 so that the follower 30 willprogress up the magazine body 10 as ammunition is used. Floor plate 20slides over a rim 23 of the floor end 13, using a ledge to interfacewith the rim, and simultaneously over the lock plate 25. The floor plate20 and lock plate 25 interface together with a tab 26 on the lock plateresting within a slot 27 of the floor plate (shown in FIGS. 6-6c), so,with the floor plate 20 holding the magazine 1 and the lock plate 25holding the floor plate 20 laterally, as it is forced against the floorplate 20 by the spring, the floor plate 20 does not slide off themagazine 1. A protective impact cover 40 is also provided for use duringstorage. Magazine 1 also features two indicator windows 15 to view thespring. An indicator, which could be as simple as a colored dot or a dabof properly placed paint, is positioned on the spring and is viewablethrough the windows when the magazine 1 is assembled. Ideally, thewindows 15 are positioned on either side of the magazine body 10 and areclose enough to the floor end so that they are not obscured when themagazine 1 is inserted in a weapon's magazine well. FIGS. 2-4 provideviews of the magazine 1 assembled, FIG. 4 without the impact cover 40.

Inside the body 10, along the fore side of the magazine 1, is a ridge19, shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8. The ridge serves three purposes. Thefirst purpose is to provide additional stability and strength to themagazine body 10. The second purpose is to divide tips of cartridges,left from right, in their off-set stacking in the magazine. The thirdpurpose is to provide an additional interface with the follower 30 toprevent forward linear and axial tilt. In order to accommodate stripperclips, the ridge 19 may terminate at a point significantly below thefeed lips, about 0.5 inches for a 0.223 Remington caliber magazine, asshown in FIGS. 19-22. The factors that govern this dimension relate tocartridge size, stripper clip design and geometry, the method used tomove the cartridges from the stripper clip to the magazine, and thenumber of rounds on the stripper clip, among other factors. The bodyalso has two lateral guide rails 31 extending through the body 10. Theguide rails 31 are flattened in front and angular towards the rear so asto present a more solid surface for the follower to abut and to guidecartridges as they travel through the magazine body 10. So as to notinterfere with feeding of cartridges into the weapon, the guide rails 31should terminate 31a at approximately a cartridge's diameter of the feedend 17 of the magazine body (as defined by the level where the rib 19terminates with tab 29), or about ¼ inch for a 0.223 Remington magazineor 5/16 of an inch for a .308 Winchester caliber magazine. This is,however, only for certain embodiments, as the guide rails 31 can extendthe entire length of the magazine body 10 and the magazine will still befunctional.

As shown in FIGS. 9-9e, the follower 30 has two tines, a forward tine 33and hind tine 37. Both tines are elongated and extending from platform34. The forward tine 33 presses against the ridge 19 and prevents axialmovement, particularly those movements caused by the simple act offiring the weapon, which would push the rear of the ammunition (and thefollower 30) down. The hind tine 37 fits into trough 11 (FIG. 7) toprevent lateral movement. The extension of the tines greatly inhibitsaxial and lateral movement as the extension increases contact with themagazine body and provides more counter-torque when forces would causesuch movement. The follower also has two lateral arms 36 that fitalongside of the guide rails 31 to further inhibit rotation. Thefollower 30 interfaces with spring 35 by attachment of the spring 35 toloop 38 and retention of the spring 35 by retaining wall 32. In someembodiments, the hind tine 37 can be excluded and the interaction of thelateral arms 36 and the guide rails 31 can be a primary inhibitor ofrotation of the follower. In other embodiments, the one or more tines33, 37 can be split via a vertical separation or gap (G).

At the top of ridge 19 is a slight tab 29 (FIGS. 6 and 8) that protrudestowards the interior of the magazine 1. Tab 29 serves as a block toprevent the follower 30 from exiting the feed end 17 of the magazine 1.It interfaces with a detent 39 provided in the follower 30 (FIGS. 9, 9b,and 9e). In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 19-22, the tab 29 is, ofcourse, lower in relation to the feed lips. The follower 30 then, asshown in FIGS. 23-31 has a chamfered groove 90 so as to allow thefollower 30 to still be blocked, but in a manner that allows it to fullyrise in relation to the magazine. The groove 90 also allows furtherinterface to reduce disadvantageous tilt in the follower. In anembodiment, the lock plate 25 may also feature a ridge 96 to interfacewith the bottom of the follower 30 when the magazine is fully loaded, soas to support the follower 30 and round stack and reduce spring fatigue,as shown in FIGS. 19-22.

In an embodiment, the magazine body is comprised of a reinforcedthermoplastic polymer selected to resist damage from use (e.g., theejection of a magazine which causes the magazine to impact a hardsurface, which may occur during a speed reload). However, other polymersmay be used and the magazines may be made in any color or opacity (whichcan reduce or eliminate the need for a magazine level indicator). Somepolymers may be used without reinforcement. Various reinforcementmaterials, such as glass, carbon (e.g., carbon fiber or carbonnanotubes), minerals, or metals (e.g., steel, titanium, aluminum, etc.)may also be used to reinforce the magazine. Likewise, the magazine bodymay be made of other materials having suitable strength and durability,such as titanium, ceramics, laminates, amorphous metals, etc. Thefollower is preferred to be made of polyoxymethylene, or acetal resin,available commercially from DuPont under the trade name DELRIN, thoughother materials are suitable, just not preferred.

The magazine 1 is structured to increase its structural integrity. Tothat end, fore ridge 19 provides added durability to the magazine.Protective cover 40 also provides reinforcement during storage, aspressures from the stored ammunition and spring 35 would normally forcethe feed lips 21 of the magazine 1 apart. Protective cover 40, shown inFIGS. 10-10e, interfaces with geometry, namely notch 44 and hinge base48, on the magazine body 10 with latch 43 and cover hinge 47 (FIGS. 2, 3and 4), and forces the ammunition downward with an underside spacer 45,thereby redirecting and distributing the forces that would normally beapplied to the feed lips 21 in a more advantageous manner. Geometry 92may be added to the magazine to allow the cover to fasten on the bottomof the magazine for storage (FIGS. 13-18). A double notch 94 may beutilized (FIG. 17) as this geometry can benefit the molding process.

The cover 40 also serves as a magazine tool as the cover latch 43 willfit between the feed lips 21 so as to push rounds of ammunition 50 outof the magazine 1 (FIGS. 11a-11c). It also has a specialized gauge 49 todetermine if the feed lips 21 have either splayed or compressed in amanner to prevent operability of the magazine with the weapon (FIGS.10-10e). Gauge 49 is a flared area, specially sized depending upon thesize of ammunition, slightly above latch 43. The operable magazine 1will accommodate the latch 43 between the feed lips 21, but not thegauge. If the latch 43 is unable to fit between feed lips 21, then thefeed lips 21 have compressed in some manner, perhaps due to impact orcompression damage, and the magazine 1 is then not fit for use. If thegauge 49 is able to fit between feed lips 21, then the feed lips 21 havesplayed, perhaps due to long term storage without the impact cover 40,and the magazine 1 is not fit for use. Measurements of the gauge andlatch widths will be dependent upon the type of ammunition used.Likewise, this magazine 1 is capable of being used in multiple weaponplatforms, each with its own tolerances. The widths of the latch 43 andgauge 49 would be dependent upon those tolerances and different weaponplatforms may be accommodated by merely fashioning a different versionof the impact cover 40 for that platform, without changing the magazineas a whole. Impact cover 40 may also be used to depress the lockingplate tab 26 so as to remove the floor plate 20 (FIGS. 12a-12c).

It should also be noted that magazine body 10 presents a constantinternal curve, with slight straightening near the interior rear face ofthe feed lips only to allow interface with a weapon. As such, thefollower 30 and associated ammunition travel more smoothly through themagazine body 10 with lessened round stack variation.

Although the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be madeand still the result will come within the scope of the invention. Nolimitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein isintended or should be inferred.

What is claimed is:
 1. An ammunition magazine comprising: a casing with fore and aft sides and two longer lateral sides longer than the fore and aft sides and first and second open ends, the casing further comprising a ridge, centrally located on an interior side of the fore side, guide rails running along insides of the longer lateral sides, the casing further comprising a stop tab projecting internally from a front of the casing constant internal curve initiating at or near the second open end and continuing through a majority of the casing of the magazine; and a follower residing within the casing, said follower further comprising a follower platform with one to four tines, one of the one to four tines being at a fore position that extends generally perpendicularly from the follower platform, the guide rails contacting the follower to act as a guide for the follower, a groove serving as a detent situated in the follower platform to interface with the stop tab.
 2. The ammunition magazine of claim 1, wherein the casing further comprises a constant internal curve initiating initiates at the second open end and continuing through a majority of the casing of the magazine.
 3. The ammunition magazine of claim 2, wherein one of the one to four tines is arranged at an aft position of the follower platform that extends generally perpendicularly from the follower platform.
 4. The ammunition magazine of claim 2, wherein the casing further comprises a ridge, centrally located on an interior side of the fore side, wherein a front face of one of the one to four tines presses against the ridge.
 5. The ammunition magazine of claim 1, wherein the casing further comprises a ridge, centrally located on an interior side of the fore side, wherein a front face of one of the one to four tines presses against the ridge.
 6. The ammunition magazine of claim 1, wherein one of the one to four tines is arranged at an aft position of the follower platform that extends generally perpendicularly from the follower platform.
 7. The ammunition magazine of claim 1 6, wherein the casing further comprises a ridge, centrally located on an interior side of the fore side, wherein a front face of another one of the one to four tines presses against the ridge.
 8. The ammunition magazine of claim 1, wherein one or more of the one to four tines is split into two regions via a vertical gap arranged at a center of the one or more tines.
 9. An ammunition magazine comprising: a casing with fore and aft sides and two longer lateral sides longer than the fore and aft sides and first and second open ends, the casing further comprising a ridge, centrally located on an interior side of the fore side, the casing further comprising guide rails running along insides of the longer lateral sides, the casing further comprising a constant internal curve initiating at the second open end and continuing through a majority of the casing of the magazine, and the casing further comprising a stop tab projecting internally from a front of the casing; and a follower residing within the casing, said follower further comprising a follower platform with one to four tines, one of the one to four tines being at a fore position that extends generally perpendicularly from the follower platform, another of the one or more tines being at an aft position and shaped to fit into a trough in at least a portion of the aft side, the guide rails contacting the follower to act as a guide for the follower, a groove serving as a detent situated in the follower platform to interface with the stop tab, thereby preventing the follower from eiting the magazine through the first end.
 10. The ammunition magazine of claim 9, wherein the follower platform comprises a second tine at an aft position of the follower that extends generally perpendicularly therefrom.
 11. The ammunition magazine of claim 10 9, wherein the casing further comprises a ridge, centrally located on an interior side of the fore side, wherein a front face of one of the one to four tines presses against the ridge.
 12. The ammunition magazine of claim 9, wherein the casing further comprises a ridge, centrally located on an interior side of the fore side, wherein a front face of one of the one to four tines presses against the ridge.
 13. The ammunition magazine of claim 9, wherein one or more of the one to four tines is split into two regions via a vertical gap arranged at a center of the one or more tines.
 14. The ammunition magazine of claim 1, further comprising a stop tab projecting internally from a front of the casing.
 15. The ammunition magazine of claim 14, further comprising a groove serving as a detent situated in the follower platform to interface with the stop tab.
 16. The ammunition magazine of claim 9, further comprising a groove serving as a detent situated in the follower platform to interface with a stop tab, thereby preventing the follower from exiting the ammunition magazine through the first end.
 17. The ammunition magazine of claim 9, wherein the casing further comprises a constant internal curve initiating at the second open end and continuing through a majority of the casing of the ammunition magazine.
 18. The ammunition magazine of claim 9, wherein the casing further comprises a stop tab projecting internally from a front of the casing. 